Island



Feb; 5, 1924; 1,482,806

M. c. MILLER KNITTING MACHINE Original Filed March 12. 1917 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 'XQ\ Fa; ntbr 33 I 62 1 e JIM flew/W m M, 2:44 VW Feb. 5 11924. 1,482,806

M. c. MILLER KNITTING MACHINE Original Filed March 12. 1917 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 5, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MAX C. MILLER, OF CUMBERLAND HILL, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR TO JENCKES KNITTING MACHINE COMPANY, OF PAWTUCKET, RHODE ISLAND, A CORPORATION I or RHODE ISLAND.

KNITTING MACHINE.

Application filed March 12, 1917, Serial No. 154,190. Renewed August 21, 1922. Serial No. 583,357.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MAX C. MILLER, a subject of the Emperor of Germany, residing at Cumberland Hill, in the county of Cumberland and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Knitting Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

'The invention relates to yarn changing mechanism for rotary needle cylinder machines such as are commonly used for knitting seamless stockings and similar tubular fabric.

In machines of this type the yarn changers and the yarn cutter are usually operated by cams mounted upon an intermittently rotating pattern drum, which also carries the cams for controlling and effecting the various changes incident to knitting a stocking. With this construction the proper timing of the yarn changers is dependent upon the accuracy with which the cams are shaped and adjusted, and since the pattern drum is moved step-by-step by a comparatively slow racking movement, while the needle cylinder rotates at a comparatively high speed, it is difficult, if not impracticable to effect the various changes of yarn at a uniform point in the series of needles, especially upon fine gage and high speed machines. An accurate and careful readjustment of the various cams is also required in varying the lap to suit different yarns or to meet different conditions. This manner of operating the yarn cutter also requires an objectionably long rack or advance movement of the pattern drum when the yarn is to be changed, since the cutter operating cam should hold the cutter open during substantially one-half a revolution of the needle cylinder.

It is accordingly the object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved construction of yarn changing mechanism which will enable the yarns to be accurately and uniformly changed at the desired point in the series of needles carried by the needle cylinder, and which will enable the adjustments for varying the lap of the yarns in changing from one yarn to another to be readily and accurately made. It is a further object to provide novel and improved yarn cutter operating mechanism which may or may not be combined with the novel yarn changing mechanism, and to otherwise improve and simplify the construction and mode of operation of the yarn changing mechanism.

To these ends one feature of the invention contemplates operating the yarn changers by normally inactive cams or other actuators continually moving during the knitting in time with the needle cylinder or at a rate bearing a definite relation to the rotation of the cylinder and actively connected to opcrate the yarn changers at the desired points in the knitting by a pattern mechanism. With this construction the actuators are in a definite relation to the needles of the needle cylinder, so that they will operate the yarn changers to uniformly insert and withdraw the yarns whenever they are actively connected with the yarn changers by the pattern mechanism. To avoid duplication of parts, to ensure the operation of the different yarn changers at uniform points in the series of needles in inserting and withdrawing the yarns, and to facilitate the adjustment for any desired lap of the yarns, it is preferred to utilize the same actuators for operating all the yarn changers, and to so construct the connections through which the actuators operate the yarn changers that the pattern mechanism may bring into active relation to the actuators the connections corresponding to any idle yarn which is to be inserted, and the connections corresponding to any knitting yar-n which is to be withdrawn.

Another feature of the invention contemplates operating the yarn cutter by a normally inactive cam or other actuator moving in time with the needle cylinder and actively connected to operate the cutter by a pattern mechanism. In combining this feature with the feature above referred to, it is preferred to so construct the connections between the cutter and its actuating cam that they are brought into active relation to the cam through the movement of any one of the yarn changers in withdrawing its yarn.

The features outlined above, as well as the further novel features referred to in the claims, will be understood from an inspection of the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description of the mechanism illustrated therein.

vIn the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view showing so much of a knitting machine as is necessary to illustrate the application of the present invention there to; Fig. 2 is a detail view of the throat through which the yarns are led to the needles; and Fig. 3 is a plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 1.

The machine shown in the drawings is provided with a rotary needle cylinder 1 in 1 which the needles 2 are mounted to reciprocate in the usual manner. The machine is provided with web holding sinlrers 3, and the needles and sinkers are operated in the usual manner by suitable cams, pickers and controlling devices, which may be of any suitable or well-known construction. The machine is provided with a latch ring 4, and the yarns used during the knitting are presented to and withdrawn from the needles through an opening or throat 5 formed in the latch ring.

The various yarns, some or all of which may be inserted and withdrawn during the knitting of a stocking, are carried by a series of yarn changer carriers 6 which in the construction shown are in the form of bell crank levers mounted to swing about a pivot stud 7 The lower arms of the yarn changers are provided with yarn guides 8.

through which the yarns are led, and the upper arms. of the levers are acted upon by spring-pressed pins 9 which tend to swing the levers down into such position that the yarn passing through the guide 8 will lead through the throat plate 5 to the needles. When the lever is swung up into the posi tion of one of the lovers shown in Fig. 1, the yarn carried by this lever will be with drawn from the needles, and as the needle rylinder continues to revolve this yarn will be carried under a guide finger 10, under a yarn clamp'll, and under the yarn cutier blade 12, the clamp and yarn cutter having been opened to receive the yarn. After the yarn has been carried under the clamp and cutter, they are closed to cut and hold the yarn until it is again inserted by the movement of the yarn changer lever into its lower or yarn feeding position.

In the construction shown, the mechanism for operating the yarn changers to insort or withdraw the yarns comprises two actuator cams which are connected to continually move in time w1th the needle cylinnected either mediately or immediately to move in time with the needle cylinder in any suitable manner. In the construction shown the actuator cams are connected to move with the needle cylinder by securing them upon a disc which is in turn secured immediately to the needle cylinder; The actuator cams are indicated at 13 and 14, and are secured to a cam carrier disc 15 which is connected to the upper end of the needle cylinder. The cam 13 is the cam for actuating the yarn changers to withdraw the yarns, and the actuator cam 14; is the cam for actuating the yarn changers to insert the yarns. relation to the series of needles carried by the needle cylinder, and are adjustably secured to the disc 15 by the screws 16, so that they may be readily adjusted circumfercntially of the needle cylinder to vary their relation to the needles, and thus vary the lap or the points at which the yarns are inserted or withdrawn. The means for connecting the cams to actuate the yarn changers comprises a series of connector slides 17 corresponding to the series of yarn changers, and a series of levers 18 intermediate the connectors and yarn changer levers. The connector slides are 'mounted'to move radiall of the cam carrier disc 15, and are provlded at their forward ends with depending pins 19 which are normally in position to register with the groove or space 20 between the actuator cams 13 and 14, but maybe moved into the path of the cam 1+1 by inward movement of the, slides, or into it ie path of the cam 13 by outward movement of the slides. Each connector slide is provided on its upper side with a lug 2-1 arranged to play'in a recess inthe lower end of the corresponding lever 18, the ends of the recess 22 and 23 forming shoulders which are engaged by the lug 21 to swing the lever in one direction or the other, and thus operate the corresponding yarn changer to insert or withdraw the yarn. as the case may be. The recess between the shoulders 25? and 23 provides for lost motion between the connector slide and lever 18, so that the.

yarn changer is not affected by the preliminary movement of the connector into the path of either of the actuator cams 13 and 14. Each lever 18 is frictionally retained in the position into which it is moved by the corresponding connector slide by a spring latch 24 arranged to engage notches in the lower end of the lever.

The connector slides are moved to render the actuator cams active upon selected yarn changers by series of controller pins 25 and only two of which are shown in the drawings. These pins are secured in series of holes formed in'a pattern drum 27 se :cured to a shaft 28, which may also carry the cams for effecting and controlling the various changes incident to knitting a stocking. This pattern drum is connected with a ratchet wheel 29 which may be operated upon at suitable intervals by a pawl conltrolled from the usual pattern chain of this type of machine. Each connector slide is provided with two inclined surfaces 30' and 31-, which are arranged to be engaged by the controller pins in the two series corresponding to that connector. The surfaces '30 are arranged to register with the pins 25, while the surfaces 31 are out of line with the surfaces 30 and are arranged to be engaged by the pins 26.

Assuming that the front yarn changer is to be operated to insert its yarn, and the rear yarn changer is to be operated to withdraw its yarn, the pin 25 corresponding to the front yarn changer, and the pin 26 corresponding to the rear yarn changer, will be in the positions indicated in Fig. 1. The pattern drum will be moved a step forward. During this movement of the pattern drum the pin will advance the front 25 connector 17, while the pin 26 will retract the rear connector. This willbring the pins 19 of these connectors into the paths of the cams 13 and 14.

As the cams pass the connectors, cam 30 will draw the front connector inward that its lug 21 will engage the shoulder as of the front lever 18. rocking the lever into position to release the front yarn changer, so that this changer will swing into active position, inserting its yarn between two needles, the point at which the yarn is inserted being accurately deter- I mined by the position of the cam 14. After this yarn has been inserted thecam 13 will move the rear connector outward, so that its lug 21 will strike the shoulder 23' of the rear lever 18, swinging it in a direction to raise the rear yarn changer so that this changer will withdraw its yarn from the needles, the point at which the yarn is withdrawn being accurately determined by the position of the cam 13. After the yarns have been thus changed, the two connectors will be returned to initial inactive position, indicated in Fig. 1, without affecting the positions of the yarn changers by two resetting cams 32 and 33 which are secured to the cam carrier disc 15, and are arranged to engage the pins 19 of the connector slides and bring them into the space or groove 34 between the cams which is in line with the space 20 between the actuator cams 13 and 14.

Whenever a yarn is withdrawn, the yarn cutterv 12 should be opened to permit this yarn to pass under it, and then the cutter should be closed to sever the yarn. In the construction shown, the cutter is opened and closed by a lever 35 actuated by a cam 36 connected to move in time with the needle cylinder, and operating through connections which are normally out of active reiatiou with the cam, and which are bmught into active relation therewith-through the movements of the pattern drum 27, As shown, the cam 36 is connected to move in time with the needle cylinder by being secured to the cam disc 15, and the connections be tween the cam and the cutter lever are constructed and arranged to be brought into active relation to the cam-by the movement; of any one of the connector into active relation to the yarn withdrawing cam 13. These connections comprise a connector slide 37 provided with a projecting pin 3: arranged to be engaged by an arm 39 secured to the end of a rock shaft 41 The rock shaft 40 is arranged below the connector slides 17, and is provided with finger or series of fingers projecting into recesses 42 formed in the under side of the connector slides 17, the forward ends of the recesses forming shoulders for engaging the fingers 41 to rock the shaft 40 when the connector slides are moved outward from initial position, and the recesses permitting the connector slides to move forward from initial position without affecting the rock shaft 40. The rear end of the connector slide 37 is provided with a wedgeshaped cam 43 terminating in abrupt shoulder 44. The cam is arranged to act upon the lower end of a sliding pin 45, the upper end of which engages the rear end of the cutter lever 35. The pin slides in a rocking bearing 46, the normal position of which is determined by an arm arranged to rest upon a stop screw 48. The bearing is held in normal position with the arm 47 resting on the stop screw by the weight of the parts.

When any one of the connector slides 17 is moved outward, preparatory to withdrawing the corresponding yarn, the rock shaft 40 is rocked to advance the connector slide 37 from, its normal inactive position shown in Fig. 1 to a posit-ion with its forward end in the path of the cutter actua ing cam During this movementthe cam 43 passes forward under the pin 45, the shoulder 44 acting to swing the pin and bearing 46 toward the left until the cam has passed under the end of the pin, so that the bearing and pin may swing into normal position. About the time that the cam 13 acts to withdraw a yarn, the cutter actuating cam 36 will force the connector slide 37 outward, and during this movement of the connector slide the cam 43 will force the pin 45 upward, thus rocking the cutter lever 35 to open the cutter l2 and also open the yarn holder 11. The end of the slide 37 will ride on the intermediate parts 48 o fthe cam 36, and the pin 45 will remain on the high part of the cam 43, thus holding the yarn cutter and yarn holder open until the yarn which has been withdrawn ha passed under the holder and cutter. This requires about a half revolution of the needle cylinder after the yarn has been withdrawn. The end of he connector slide 37 will then. ride on to the high part 4.9 of the cam 36. This final out-- ward movement of the slide carries the cam 4-3 from under the pin 45, so that the pin may drop down in front of the shoulder Mr and permit the yarn cutter and yarn clamp to close to sever and hold the yarn. The cam 36 is preferably made in two sections,

as indicated, which are adjust-ably secured to the cam disc 15, so that the points at which the cutter is opened and closed, and

the length of time during which the cutter remains open, may be varied. to secure the best results. The rearward movement of the connector slide 37 may be depended upon to return the connector slide 17 corresponding to the withdrawn yarn to initial neutral position if desired, but it is preferred to provide the cam 32 arranged to form one side of the aligning groove 34, since the aligning groove will ensure the proper and accurate positioning of the pins 19 wlth relation to the yarn withdrawing and inserting cam.

The yarn changing levers 6 are so mount ed that they may be independently swung up out of action whenever any of them. are not to be used during the knitting, and means is provided for latching or retaining each of the levers in such position. In the construction shown, the spring-pressed p1ns 9 are utilized to latch the yarn changer levers in position when wung up out of use. The upper arm of each lever is provided with a notch 50 arranged to be engaged by a corresponding pin when the lever is in in active position.

\Vhile it is preferred to employ the specific construction and arrangement of parts shown and described, it will be understood that this construction and arrangement is not essential to the broader features of the invention, but may be varied or modi fied as found desirable or best suited to the construction and arrangement of parts in the machine in which the invention is to be embodied.

Having explained the nature and object of the invention, and specifically described one form of mechanism in which it may be embodied, what is claimed is 1. A knitting machine having, in combination, a rotary needle cylinder, a series of yarn changers for feeding the yarn to the heedle at the same point, means continually moving in time with the. needle cylinder for operating the yarn changers to insert or to withdraw their yarn, and mechanism for controlling the action of said means to render it selectively active on the yarn changers the needle cylinder and for rendering it.

again active on said yarn changer to withdraw its yarn during a subsequent selected iotatimi of the needle cylinder.

3. A knitting machine, having, in combination, a rotary needle cylinder, a series of yarn changers, a yarn inserting cam and a yarn withdrawing cam. connected to move in time with the needle cylinder, and mecha nism for controlling the action of the cams to render either active on any yarn changer in the series.

l 4. A knitting machine having, in combinat1on, a rotary needle cylinder, means continually moving in time with the needle cylinder for operating the yarn changers to either insert or withdraw their yarns, and controlling mechanism for connecting the different changers of the series with said means to insert the corresponding yarn and again connecting said changers with. said means to Withdraw the corresponding yarn.

A knitting machine having, in comblnation, a rotary needle cylinder, a series of yarn changers, actuators connected to move in time with the needle cylinder for actuating the yarn changers to either insert or to withdraw their yarns, mechanism for selectively establishing active relation between the different yarn changers of the series and one only of the actuators to either insert or to withdraw the corresponding yarn or yarns, and means for reestablishing normally inactive relation. a 6. A knitting machine, having, in combinat1on, a rotary; needle cylinder, aseries of yarn changers, two actuator cams for operating the changers to insert and withdraw yarns connected to move in time with the needle cylinder, connectorsfor establishing nectors into the paths of the cams, and cams for independently returning the connectors to initial position out of the cam paths.

8. A knitting machine, having, in combination, a rotary needle cylinder, a series of yarn changers, mechanism for operating the changers in any order and at any time during the knitting to insert or withdraw their yarns, a common yarn cutter within the needles for cutting yarns thus withdrawn, a cutter operating cam connected to continually move in time with the needle cylinder, normally inactive connectors through which the cam may operate the cutter, and means for rendering the connections active to operate the cutter when a yarn is to be withdrawn.

9. A knitting machine, having, in combination, a rotary needle cylinder, a series of yarn changers for feeding yarns to the needles at the same point, means connected to continually move in time with the needle cylinder for operating any yarn changer to insert or withdraw its yarn at definite points in the rotation of the cylinder, and mechanism for controlling the action of said means on the yarn changers to insert any yarn during any rotation of the needle cylinder, and to withdraw such yarn during any rotation of the needle cylinder.

10. A knitting machine, having, in comhination, a rotary needle cylinder, a series of yarn changers for feeding yarns to the needles at the same point, actuators connected to continually move in time with the needle cylinder to determine the points in the rotation of the cylinder at which the yarns are inserted and withdrawn, normally inactive connectors for connecting each yarn changer with the actuators to either insert or withdraw its yarn, and controlling means for bringing, any connector into active relation to the actuators and determining the rotation of the needle cylinder during which the corresponding yarn is either inserted or withdrawn.

11. A knitting machine having, in com bination, a rotary and reciprocatory needle cylinder, a series of yarn changers, mechanism for operating the changers to insert and withdraw their yarns at infrequent intervals during the knitting, a common yarn severer within the needles, means within the needles for holding the inactive yarns, a co tinuously moving cam connected to move in time with the needle cylinder, and means for rendering the cam active to operate the yarn severer when a yarn is withdrawn by any of the yarn changers.

12. A knitting machine having, in combination, a rotary and reciprocatory needle cylinder, a series of yarn changers, a common yarn severer within the needles, means within the needles for holding the inactive yarns, a continuously moving cam connected to move in time with the needle cylinder, and a pattern mechanism for causing the yarn changers to insert one yarn and withdraw another at intervals during the knitting and for rendering the cam active to operate the severer to sever each withdrawn yarn.

13. A knitting machine having, in combination, a rotary and reciprocatory needle cylinder, a series of yarn changers, means within the needles for holding the inactive yarns, a common yarn severer within the needles, a continuously moving cam connected to move in time with the needle cylinder, normally inactive connections for transmitting motion from the cam to the severer, and a pattern mechanism for causing the yarn changers to insert and withdraw their respective yarns at infrequent intervals dining the knitting and for rendering the connections active to actuate the severer whenever a yarn is withdrawn.

MAX C. MILLER. 

